What's Next For Rockets After Missing Out On No. 1 Pick And Victor Wembanyama?

Are the Houston Rockets more likely to trade their lottery pick after missing out on the top overall selection of the 2023 NBA Draft?

HOUSTON — The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery is over, and Victor Wembanyama will likely call San Antonio home for at least the next seven years. The San Antonio Spurs won the draft lottery Tuesday night in Chicago and will presumably select Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Houston Rockets, who finished with the second-worst record in the league, missed the top overall selection for the third consecutive year. They obtained the No. 4 pick in the draft and could have their choice between Overtime Elite prospects Amen and Ausar Thompson.

But a month before the Rockets knew where they stood in the draft, general manager Rafael Stone revealed he would "consider anything" when improving the team's roster. And the possibility of trading Houston's lottery pick is a realistic option. 

"I will consider trading picks for anything — it's my job," Stone said in April. "We will consider anything if it makes sense to where we are trying to go ultimately."

Since the end of the 2022-23 campaign, the Rockets have declared they have moved into phase II of their rebuilding project.

Houston hired coach Ime Udoka following the jettison of Stephen Silas. And after having one of the youngest teams in the league over the previous two seasons, the Rockets have expressed the urge to add veteran players this off-season. 

A source told Inside the Rockets in March Houston would explore the possibility of trading its lottery pick should the selection fall outside of the Top-3. 

In addition to the No. 4 pick, the Rockets will have the 20th selection as the final piece to the trade deadline deal that sent Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers.   

"We don’t necessarily have to draft at least both of the picks," Stone said. "Depending on who is available in the draft, trading those picks for future picks or veteran guys, all is on the table for us."

According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets came extremely close to landing the No. 1 overall pick and the right to Wembanyama. The 2002 draft marked the last time the Rockets landed the top selection — used to draft Yao Ming.

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